Cheapest Rate Quotes for Ford Explorer Sport Trac Insurance in Seattle

Trying to find cheaper insurance for a Ford Explorer Sport Trac in Washington can turn out to be difficult, but you can follow the following methods to make it easier.

There is a right way and a wrong way to find auto insurance online and you need to know the quickest way to quote coverages on a Ford and obtain the cheapest rates.

It’s hard to fathom, but most drivers in Washington renewed their policy with the same company for four years or more, and just short of a majority have never even compared quotes to find cheaper rates. Most drivers in the U.S. can save hundreds of dollars each year just by comparing rates, but most tend to underestimate the rate savings if they replace their high priced policy.

Cutting your Seattle car insurance rates is surprisingly easy. You just need to spend a few minutes comparing rate quotes to discover which company has the cheapest Ford Explorer Sport Trac rate quotes.

The companies shown below are ready to provide price comparisons in Seattle, WA. If several companies are displayed, it’s highly recommended you click on several of them in order to get a fair rate comparison.

Price data assumes single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, and safe-driver. Estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can affect rates significantly.

Cost of full coverage in Seattle

The example below illustrates the comparison of Ford Explorer Sport Trac auto insurance rates with full coverage and liability only. The data assumes a clean driving record, no claims, $100 deductibles, married male driver, and no additional discounts are factored in.

When to drop full coverage

There isn’t a written rule for excluding physical damage coverage, but there is a general convention. If the annual cost of coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then it could be time to drop full coverage.

For example, let’s pretend your Ford Explorer Sport Trac replacement cost is $7,000 and you have $1,000 physical damage deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most you would get paid by your company is $6,000 after the policy deductible has been paid. If it’s costing in excess of $600 a year to have full coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.

There are a few situations where removing full coverage is not a good plan. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you have to carry full coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in the event your current vehicle is totaled, you should maintain full coverage.

Can higher deductibles save money?

One of the hardest decisions when shopping for car insurance is how high should the physical damage coverage deductibles be. The following insurance rates can help you visualize the rate fluctuation when you select higher and lower deductibles. The first set of rates uses a $100 comprehensive and collision deductible and the second pricing table uses a $1,000 deductible.

Data based on married male driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, and Washington minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, safe-driver, claim-free, and multi-policy. Prices do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can influence coverage rates noticeably.

Based on this data, using a $100 deductible will cost you approximately $27 more each month or $324 each year than choosing the higher $1,000 deductible. Since the policyholder would be required to pay $900 more out of your own pocket with a $1,000 deductible as compared to a $100 deductible, if you tend to have at a minimum 33 months between claims, you would most likely save money by selecting a higher deductible. The table below shows a better example of how we made this calculation.

Well known brands might not be cheapest

Washington consumers can’t ignore all the ads that promise big savings by companies like Allstate and Progressive. They all seem to seem to make the promise about how much you will save just by switching to them.

How does every company offer you a better deal on Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance in Seattle? Just pay attention to how they say it.

Insurance companies are able to cherry pick for the type of driver that earns them the most money. A good example of this type of driver might be described as between the ages of 30 and 50, has few claims, and has a high credit rating. A customer getting a price quote who matches those parameters will get a cheap rate quote in Seattle and as a result will probably save if they switch.

Insureds who don’t meet the “perfect” profile may receive more expensive rates and this can result in the customer not buying. If you pay attention, the ads say “people that switch” not “everyone who quotes” save that much. This is how companies can truthfully lure you into getting a quote.

Different companies use different criteria so it’s extremely important to compare quotes as often as possible. It is just not possible to predict which company will fit your personal profile best.

Why you need to buy insurance

Despite the potentially high cost of Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance, insuring your vehicle may be required for several reasons.

First, almost all states have minimum mandated liability insurance limits which means you are required to carry a minimum amount of liability protection in order to license the vehicle. In Washington these limits are 25/50/10 which means you must have $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage.

Second, if you bought your car with a loan, almost all lenders will require you to buy full coverage to guarantee loan repayment. If you default on your policy, the lender will be forced to insure your Ford at an extremely high rate and force you to pay for the expensive policy.

Third, insurance protects both your vehicle and your assets. Insurance will also pay for hospital and medical expenses for you, any passengers, and anyone injured in an accident. As part of your policy, liability insurance will also pay attorney fees if someone files suit against you as the result of an accident. If damage is caused by hail or an accident, comprehensive (other-than-collision) and collision coverage will pay to repair the damage.

The benefits of insuring your car are definitely more than the cost, particularly when you have a large claim. According to a recent study, the average American driver is overpaying more than $750 every year so it’s recommended you shop around once a year at a minimum to ensure rates are competitive.

Cheap Seattle insurance rates with discounts

Insurance is not cheap nor is it fun to buy but there could be significant discounts that could drop your premiums quite a bit. A few discounts will automatically apply at the time of quoting, but some may not be applied and must be inquired about before they will apply.

• Pay Early and Save – By paying your policy upfront as opposed to paying monthly you could save 5% or more.
• Driver Training Discounts – Participating in a safe driver course may get you a small discount and easily recoup the cost of the course.
• More Vehicles More Savings – Buying a policy with primary and secondary vehicles with one company can get a discount for every vehicle.
• Discounts for Good Drivers – Safe drivers can save up to 40% or more on their Seattle car insurance quote as compared to drivers with claims.
• Telematics Data – Drivers that enable driving data collection to study where and when they drive by using a telematic data system like In-Drive from State Farm and Progressive’s Snapshot might get better premium rates as long as they are good drivers.
• Discount for Swiching Early – Some insurance companies give discounts for renewing your policy early. You may see this discount when you get Seattle car insurance quotes online.
• Theft Prevention System – Vehicles optioned with advanced anti-theft systems are less likely to be stolen and will qualify for a discount on a Seattle car insurance quote.

Don’t be shocked that some credits don’t apply to the entire cost. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as medical payments or collision. Even though the math looks like you would end up receiving a 100% discount, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

A list of insurance companies and the discounts they provide include:

• GEICO discounts include driver training, military active duty, emergency military deployment, multi-vehicle, membership and employees, good student, and air bags.
• Travelers has discounts for continuous insurance, student away at school, save driver, home ownership, IntelliDrive, hybrid/electric vehicle, and payment discounts.
• Nationwide offers premium reductions for business or organization, defensive driving, accident-free, good student, easy pay, and Farm Bureau membership.
• Farmers Insurance offers discounts for homeowner, bundle discounts, multi-car, business and professional, and good student.
• Esurance may have discounts that include emergency road assistance, anti-lock brakes, good driver, safety device, and multi-policy.
• State Farm includes discounts for multiple policy, accident-free, good driver, Drive Safe & Save, Steer Clear safe driver discount, anti-theft, and good student.
• Progressive offers discounts including continuous coverage, multi-policy, online quote discount, multi-vehicle, and homeowner.
• Mercury Insurance may offer discounts for annual mileage, anti-theft, ease of repair, type of vehicle, and low natural disaster claims.

If you need lower rates, check with all the companies how you can save money. A few discounts may not be offered everywhere. If you would like to view insurers offering insurance discounts in Washington, click here.

Compare rates but work with a neighborhood Seattle auto insurance agent

Many people would rather buy from a local agent and that is recommended in a lot of cases Professional agents can point out coverage gaps and will help you if you have claims. One of the great benefits of price shopping on the web is you can get lower prices and still have an agent to talk to. Putting coverage with small agencies is definitely important in Seattle.

For easy comparison, once you complete this short form, the coverage information is instantly submitted to insurance agents in Seattle who will give you quotes for your insurance coverage. You won’t need to search for any insurance agencies since price quotes are sent to the email address you provide. If for some reason you want to quote rates from one company in particular, just visit that company’s website and fill out their quote form.

Picking the best company needs to be determined by more than just a low price. Here are some questions to ask:

• Does the agent help file claims?
• Is there a local claims center in Seattle?
• Is the agent and/or agency licensed to do business in Washington?
• Will their companies depreciate repairs to your car based on the mileage?
• Can they help ensure a fair claim settlement?
• Is there a 24/7 contact number?

Auto insurance 101

Learning about specific coverages of your insurance policy aids in choosing the right coverages and proper limits and deductibles. Policy terminology can be confusing and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Auto liability

Liability insurance will cover damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property by causing an accident. It consists of three limits, bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see policy limits of 25/50/10 which stand for $25,000 bodily injury coverage, $50,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $10,000 paid for damaged property. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which combines the three limits into one amount with no separate limits for injury or property damage.

Liability can pay for things like attorney fees, loss of income, bail bonds, repair costs for stationary objects and medical services. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as much as you can afford. Washington state minimum liability requirements are 25/50/10 but it’s recommended drivers buy higher limits.

Uninsured or underinsured coverage

Your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your vehicle’s occupants when other motorists either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered claims include medical payments for you and your occupants as well as damage to your Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

Since many Washington drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (25/50/10 in Washington), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Frequently these coverages are identical to your policy’s liability coverage.

Collision coverage

This pays for damage to your Explorer Sport Trac resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You have to pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision coverage pays for things such as sideswiping another vehicle, sustaining damage from a pot hole, rolling your car, hitting a parking meter and colliding with another moving vehicle. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so consider removing coverage from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible on your Explorer Sport Trac in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Comprehensive protection

Comprehensive insurance coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. A deductible will apply and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive can pay for things like hail damage, damage from getting keyed and damage from flooding. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s not worth carrying full coverage.

Medical expense coverage

Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance pay for bills like ambulance fees, doctor visits, rehabilitation expenses and nursing services. They are often used to fill the gap from your health insurance plan or if you do not have health coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants and also covers if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal Injury Protection is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Quote. Compare. Save.

When buying insurance coverage, you should never buy poor coverage just to save money. There have been many situations where consumers will sacrifice full coverage only to regret they didn’t purchase enough coverage. The aim is to buy a smart amount of coverage at the best price, not the least amount of coverage.

You just learned quite a bit of information on how to save on Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance in Seattle. It’s most important to understand that the more quotes you get, the better likelihood of getting affordable Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance quotes. Drivers may even discover the best price on auto insurance is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Some insurance companies may not have rate quotes online and usually these small, regional companies only sell coverage through independent agents. Low-cost Ford Explorer Sport Trac insurance in Seattle can be sourced online as well as from independent agents in Seattle, so you should compare both to get a complete price analysis.

Additional auto insurance information can be found on the following sites:

• New vehicle ratings focus on headlights (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Who Has Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes for Teenagers in Seattle? (FAQ)
• Who Has Affordable Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers with Bad Credit in Seattle? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Seattle Auto Insurance Quotes for Homeowners? (FAQ)
• Get the Right Protection (InsureUonline.org)
• Side Impact Crash Tests (iihs.org)
• Collision Insurance Coverage (Nationwide)